Bank robbers linked to earlier failed robbery

Updated 11:45 am, Thursday, September 20, 2012

A Capital One Bank involved in a robbery is seen in the 150 block of Greens Road Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012, in Houston.

A Capital One Bank involved in a robbery is seen in the 150 block of Greens Road Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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A suspect is seen in the back of a police car after he was involved in a robbery at a Capital One Bank in the 150 block of Greens Road Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012, in Houston.

A suspect is seen in the back of a police car after he was involved in a robbery at a Capital One Bank in the 150 block of Greens Road Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

Image 3 of 3

A Capital One Bank involved in a robbery is closed temporarily in the 150 block of Greens Road, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012.

A Capital One Bank involved in a robbery is closed temporarily in the 150 block of Greens Road, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012.

Photo: Cody Duty

Bank robbers linked to earlier failed robbery

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Authorities said suspects who robbed a bank in north Houston could be the same men who tried but failed to rob a bank about two hours earlier not far away in north Harris County Thursday morning.

The robbery occurred at about 9:10 a.m. Capitol One Bank at 153 Greens Road near Interstate 45, according to the Houston Police Department.

Police said the same suspects may be linked to a robbery attempt at a Wells Fargo Bank at 12941 North Freeway about 7:30 a.m.

As many as three suspects were involved in the robbery. One of them handed a teller a note. As the suspects left, initial reports indicate one of them stuffed the money in his pants and a dye pack, used by banks for security reasons, exploded.

In the robbery attempt, according to the FBI, the men reportedly tried to rob the bank at the drive-through window. The bank employee did not hand over any money and the suspects left.

Police did not release details about why the suspects may be linked to the later bank robbery.

No descriptions of the suspects was immediately available.

The robbery and attempted robbery come a day after FBI and local law enforcement officials announced an uptick in bank robberies in the area from last year.

Thursday's robbery and another one Wednesday at 213 W. Greens were added to the total of 119 bank heists that occurred through Aug. 31. That's about a 35 percent increase over the total of 78 bank robberies that occurred in 2011.

The reason for the spike is not clear, said Shauna Dunlap, an FBI spokeswoman. She said it is difficult to speculate about why banks are robbed. However, she added, the heists often are committed by people desperate for money to buy drugs or already have a criminal history.

A downturn in the economy, Dunlap said, is not usually a factor in bank heists.

Dunlap said the Houston region usually averages between about 100 and 150 bank robberies per year dating to 2001. The drop in robberies in 2011 may have stemmed from the arrest of criminals responsible for dozens of bank holdups.